BOARDED-UP shops in Abertillery are to be brightened up thanks to street art created by local school pupils.

Art students from Abertillery Comprehensive took part in workshops with ZAP Graffiti from Liverpool and the finished work will be used to cover up empty buildings in the town as they undergo development.

Lesley Legge, a youth coordinator with Abertillery and Cwmtillery Communities First, explained more about the project.

“At one of the Communities First Partnership Board meetings one of the members suggested that artwork was created for the derelict boarded-up properties, like you see in cities when they are developing areas,” she said.

“We contacted Abertillery Comp and asked if the GCSE Art students would like to work with us on the project.

“We think this will help to brighten up the town and is a way of letting people know that the shops are going to be developed and not left to ruin.”